Life at Eltham Palace: Elizabeth's World in 1534

From the moment Princess Elizabeth was born, her mother, Queen Anne Boleyn, was engaged in a power struggle against Henry VIII and his courtiers to secure her and her daughter's dynastic positions. For every two steps Anne Boleyn appeared to take towards that goal, she took three steps backward due to circumstances beyond her control and sometimes due to her impetuous and often imprudent actions. But no matter how poorly the King treated Anne, it's clear that she protected her daughter from the evil machinations at court as best as she could.

This article will delve into the physical and political landscape that surrounded a young Elizabeth during a crucial moment in Tudor History.

I

The year 1534 was a consequential year in Princess Elizabeth's life; although she was far too young to have felt the ramifications of it, it would nonetheless impact her significantly in later years.

That year's most significant event began on March 24, 1534, when Parliament passed the Act of Succession, which was subsequently enacted in May. The details of the act declared that Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn was lawful, their children legitimate, and the rightful heirs to the throne. Consequently, the crown commanded that all English subjects sign an oath recognizing the act and denouncing the authority of the Pope in Rome. ¹

By April 1534, Elizabeth and her household, which included her step-sister, Lady Mary, were firmly situated at Eltham Palace. Eltham had been a favorite royal residence for nearly two centuries when Elizabeth first arrived. In fact, before the reconstruction of Greenwich Palace, it was one of Henry VIII's most cherished castles and was the site of many Tudor Christmas celebrations.

It's not hard to imagine why the palace was so beloved by royalty, given its spacious rooms, which could house over 800 courtiers comfortably, its vast and lush hunting grounds (hunting being a passion of Henry VIII's), and its luxurious grand hall (a structure which remains largely intact today) built by Henry's grandfather Edward IV. ²

While Henry commissioned construction work on the palace, including a great chapel, by the 1530s, he and his court rarely resided there. Instead, Eltham reverted into a glorified nursery for the King's children.

Eltham Palace was also where Henry and Anne Boleyn's second baby was to reside. As with the first pregnancy, the physicians and soothsayers predicted a prince would be born, and excitement within the court grew.

In his assurance of a son, the King planned a grand trip to Calais and a medal coin depicting the Queen's image and her motto, 'The Most Happi, ' (neither ever materialized). He ordered his goldsmith Cornelius Hayes to make a silver cradle for the would-be prince featuring designs crafted by the celebrated German court artist Hans Holbein. ³

However, months went by, and no baby came. By September 1534, the imperial ambassador Eustace Chapuys reported to his master Charles V of Spain that the pregnancy was a false alarm. However, Anne Boleyn's official biographer, Eric Ives, argued that there was sufficient proof to believe that Anne was pregnant but that, for some unknown reason, a miscarriage or stillbirth was not officially documented. ⁴

II

During one visit to Eltham Palace, Anne Boleyn and her stepdaughter, Lady Mary, crossed paths, resulting in another battle of wills that considerably disrupted the infant Elizabeth's otherwise harmonious household.

The incident involved Mary rebuffing another of her stepmother's olive branches, causing Anne to threaten to bring Mary to ruin. But Anne was in no position to bring down Mary. By the end of 1534, rumors circulated at home and abroad that the King had once again grown tired of his second wife.

As so frequently happened in Henry's marriages, his affections diverted elsewhere, and this time, it was to an alleged sympathizer of Mary and her cause. 

According to historian Amy License, the woman in question, referred to as the 'Imperial Lady' in Chapyus' missives, might have been Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's future third wife, who was a devout Catholic and a friend to Lady Mary. ⁵

Henry's affair put Anne Boleyn in a precarious position as she had assumed her role after usurping the previous Queen, Katherine of Aragon, and subsequently feared the same happening to her with another 'mistress'. 

As a result, Anne reportedly made strides to have the 'Imperial Lady' removed from court and even commissioned the help of her brother's wife, Lady Jane, to help achieve it. However, they were unsuccessful, and the unwise power play only further isolated Anne from Henry's affections and caused her sister-in-law's temporary banishment from court.

III

Despite the domestic and dynastic tensions at home, Anne Boleyn continued to be a devoted and loving mother to her daughter, Elizabeth. 

Throughout 1534, the Queen frequently visited Eltham Palace, just a few miles away from Greenwich Palace, to spend time with her daughter. Anne also "ordered that ten of her sigil badges be inserted into the glass of the gallery where Elizabeth played." ⁶

Contrary to popular belief, at least in the early years of Elizabeth's life, Henry VIII was just as devoted of a parent as Anne Boleyn was, and he too frequently visited Elizabeth.

The evidence lies in a letter written by the constable of the Tower of London, Sir William Kingston. In his letter, dated April 18, 1534, from Greenwich Palace (months before Anne's supposed miscarriage) he informed the deputy of Calais, Lord Lisle, of the following, "Today the King and Queen were at Eltham, and saw my lady Princess, as goodly a child as hath seen, and her grace is much in the King's favor as goodly child should be, God save her." ⁷

By the end of November 1534, another political upheaval occurred when Parliament passed the first Act of Supremacy, which declared Henry VIII the supreme head of the church in England. This act led to the passing of the Treason Act a month later, which made it punishable by death to disavow the Act of Supremacy.

While Elizabeth remained in her father's favor, the same could not be said for her mother. By the end of 1534, it had become clear that for Anne Boleyn to secure her daughter's position and retain her own, she needed to produce a male heir.

The Ramifications of 1534 in Elizabeth's Later Years

Despite Eltham Palace being where Elizabeth spent much of her youth, she rarely visited it during her 45-year queenship except for the occasional hunt or to stay momentarily between progress. The palace would later become a stately home used by the peerage in the mid-sixteenth century. ⁸

The Act of Succession made Elizabeth the next heir to the throne from 1534 to 1536, usurping her elder half-sister's position. This act and the accompanying oath further divided the two sisters, who already shared many enmities. It would become a significant point of contention between them when Mary became Queen in 1553.

The Act of Supremacy ensured that Elizabeth had complete dominion over the regularities of the church in England. Although Elizabeth herself was fond of many of the ceremonial practices of the Catholic church and declared at least outwardly a more tolerant view of Catholicism, the act enabled her to become a beacon for Protestants and Protestantism, which, while it won her favorability with some it also caused disdain from enemies such as Philip II of Spain and the Pope the latter of whom later denounced her as a heretic.

Additionally, historians believe that the many mistresses Henry took during his marriage to Anne and his careless disregard for her feelings played a vital role in Elizabeth's decision to abstain from marriage.

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Image source: shutterstock.com/Artist's Chris Jenner

References:

1 Drees, C. (2022). Henry VIII: A Reference Guide to His Life and Works. Germany: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

2 English Heritage. (n.d.). Eltham Palace and Gardens. English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/

3, 4 Ridgway, C. (2014, March 7). The pregnancies of Anne Boleyn. On the Tudor Trail. https://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/anne-boleyn/guest-articles/the-pregnancies-of-anne-boleyn/

5 Licence, A. (2022). Tudor Roses: From Margaret Beaufort to Elizabeth I. United Kingdom: Amberley Publishing.

6 Lawless, E. (2013, May 8). Eltham Palace. Erin Lawless. https://erinlawless.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/eltham-palace/

7, 8 Kendall, P. (2022). Queen Elizabeth I: Life & Legacy of the Virgin Queen. United Kingdom: Pen & Sword Books.